Experience

Oliff PLC

• United States
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Workflow Coordinator / Supervisor

  • Nov 2013 - Present

  Supervisor of New Applications and Foreign Filing departments, consisting of 10-15 employees, report directly to Manager. Duties include:- Maintaining docket of applications to be filed, including receiving new applications daily, assessing each new application for completeness of filing requirements and compliance with USPTO rules, and verifying appropriate docketing of deadlines- Corresponding with clients to obtain appropriate documents, answering client inquiries regarding application requirements and prosecution processes, providing cost estimates and sending reminders regarding deadlines and filing requirements- Disseminating ready-to-file applications to New Applications Specialists based upon workload and experience level- Monitoring workload of each specialist and moving work around department to ensure that filings are completed within 7 business days; logging any work not able to be completed within 7 business days and following up with specialist to ensure work is completed- Maintain floating dockets, file new applications and preparing excess filings as necessary to assist with workload of department- Reviewing and sending out reporting emails for department mentors- Reviewing and signing letters forwarding formal Patent Office notices to clients- Training new specialists on USPTO procedures and filings including IDS's, Preliminary Amendments and responses to pre-exam formalities notices- Training new Foreign Filing specialists on handling of docket items, responding to client and agent correspondence, preparing PCT International, National Phase and direct foreign applications, and preparing and filing responses to PCT notices

• New Applications & Foreign Filing Mentor

  • Oct 2012 - Nov 2013

  Mentor in both the New Applications and Foreign Filing departments: - Oversee the Foreign Filing specialist to ensure timely handling of docket entries and filings; advise the specialist regarding foreign patent laws; assist with overflow work, including: handling mail items to be forwarded to client, preparing client bills using ELITE software, filing International Applications, preparing national phase applications to be filed by foreign associates and satisfying docket entries. - Review the filings of New Applications mentees; review and send out reporting emails to clients; review formal letters to clients; ensure mentees timely handle docket entries, filings and requests from clients; answer questions from mentees regarding Patent Office laws and client instructions; maintain a docket of approximately 250 active applications; file new applications, including: provisional, non-provisional, design, continuation and National Phase.

• Foreign Filing Specialist

  • Jun 2011 - Oct 2012

  Oversaw the Foreign Filing department of main Virginia office, as well as two satellite offices in St. Louis, MO and Charlotte, NC. Maintained a docket of approximately 2400 active cases, which included: receiving and processing all mail and email received, monitoring docketing of due dates, filing new PCT applications as well as forwarding new National Phase applications to foreign associates, communicating with clients about required documents and deadlines, and instructing foreign agents as necessary.

• New Applications Specialist

  • Jan 2011 - Jun 2011

  Maintained approximately 600 active cases, from time of filing until receipt of first Office Action. Prepared and filed new patent applications, including: provisional, non-provisional, and U.S. National Phase. Prepared formal filings such as Information Disclosure Statements, Responses to Notice to File Missing Parts & Notifications of Missing Requirements.



Watson Wyatt Worldwide

• Dallas/Fort Worth Area

• Administrative Assistant

  • May 2008 - Aug 2008

  Summer internship at consulting firm (now Towers Watson) handling various administrative duties including new case set-up, distribution of cases and preparation of daily case reports for department supervisors. Summer internship at consulting firm (now Towers Watson) handling various administrative duties including new case set-up, distribution of cases and preparation of daily case reports for department supervisors.